Sensory Loss

Hearing and vision losses are among the most corn- rnon chronic conditions affecting elderly people. Individually, each loss can be a major threat to independence and the quality of life; the combined loss of both hearing and vision creates a whole new world-muffled, blurred, and disorienting. Traditionally, social work- ers have left issues of sensory loss lo the rehabilitation specialists. Yet sensory loss is a psychosocial problem, and social workers have a great deal to offer. This paper describes a demonstration project in which a social worker coordinated the work of specialists in two agencies, provided direct service, and identified some ways in which social workers in a variety of settings might address Ihe service needs of this large and growing population.